Filing system



L 9, 1945. 11,1. WATSON ET AL 7 2,386,520

FILING SYSTEM Filed March 11, 194s 11- Sheets-Sheet 1 FlG.2.

A TTOHNE Y.

Oct. 9, 1945.

T. J. WATSON ETAL FILING SYSTEM Filed March 11, 1943 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 A TTORNE Y.

Oct. 9, 1945. T. J. WATSON ET'AL FILING SYSTEM Filed March 11, 1943 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 Hello.

W ATTORNEY T. J. WATSON ETAL Filed March 11, 1943 FILING SYSTEM 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 HTTH ATTORNEY Oct. 9, 1945. I T. J. WATSOYEN E1." AL 3 5 FILING SYSTEM Filed March 11, 1945 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 IKMOQSUW 42 FIGAS.

A TTOHNE Y.

1945- v T. J. WATSON ETAL I 2,386,520

FILING SYSTEM Filed March 11, 1943 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 a i i I I l i i i J4 nvv NT R5 BY A TTORNEY.

' Oct. 9, 1945.

T. J. WATSON ETAL 2,386,520

FILING SYSTEM Filed March 11, 1945 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 220 my 4 24/ 242 E W 1:

ATT QRNE Y.

T. J..WATSQN ET AL I Oct. 9, 1945.

FILING SYSTEM Filed March 11, 1943 ll Sheets-Sheet 10 ,4 M ATTORNEY.

Oct. 9, 1945.

T.'J. WATSON ET AL FILING'SYSTEM Filed March 11, 1943 ll Sheets-Sheet ll IN VENT O 5 v A TTORNE Y.

. Patented Oct. 9,-1 94 5 FILING SYSTEM Thomas J. Watson, New Canaan, Conn., and Burdette H. Phillips, Endicott, N. Y.,. assig'nors to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 11, 1943, Serial No. 478,808

7 Claims. (01. 45-2) remove from a, storage space a designated unit 7 of material, to convey it to the operators station for examination; then, upon depression of a single "Return" key, to restore the material to its original position in the storage space.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an automatic filing system ofthe kind de- In a preferred form of the invention, a primary selection and a secondary selection are both set up by the operator on a keyboard, the primary selection resulting in the conveyance of a section scribed, so constituted that a file clerk can be I engaged in the insertion and withdrawal of material from any section of the storage space, except a particular section from which the operatorj has withdrawn material for examination.

Another object is to provide a filing system of the kind described, wherein the material is moved to and from the operators station by conveying means which remain at that part of the storage space where material was last returned, until a new operation is started, then move directly to the part of the storage space containing the.

newly designatedmaterial.

Still another object is to provide a filing system having conveying means as last described, capable of moving transversely and vertically at the same time, in order to travel from one section of the storage space to another rapidly; For this purpose, the storage-space preferably comprises a plurality of columns of sections and the conveying means is movable vertically, horizontally, diagonally, or diagonally and vertically or.

horizontally, to approximate the most direct route from one section of thestorage space to another.

Another object is to provide an automatic filing system of the kind described, controlled by a keyboard permitting primary selection according to one letter, and in certain-cases, supplementary selection according to one or-more additionalletters. The keyboard may be constructed so that the primary selection keys pertaining to certain letters control the selection directly, while others require the operation of supplementary keys to complete the selection. The primary selection keys may represent the first letter of a name, for example,-a nd the supplementary selection .keys an additional letter.

'by the operator and its contents examined.

or drawer of the'storage cabinet to the operator's station, the section containing a plurality of compartments or boxes from which a secondary selection is made upon arrival of the drawer at the operators desk, under control of the secondary selecting means previously set on the keyboard. To facilitate the realizationof the object last described, the system may comprise an index mechanism which is set in operation simultaneously with the conveyor, and which brings to the operators view, indicia for indicating how the secondary selection should be set up for the particular drawer of the cabinet selected, the last procedure taking place prior to the arrival of the drawer at the operators station, so that the secondary selection is made automatically upon arrival of the drawer at the operators station.

In accordance with another feature of the preferred embodiment, the storage space comprises a semicircular arrangement of columns of storage sections or drawers, and the conveying means comprises an elevator mounted on a turntable, so that it .can be turned to any colunm of the storage space and raised or lowered to any level, to place it in position to withdraw one-of drawers of the storage space onto the elevator. The elevator is then moved to a central position wherein the drawer can be transferred to the operators station or desk. Upon arrival at the desk, a secondary selecting means raises a particular compartment above the level of the other compartments in the drawer, where it can be removed When the examination is completed, the compartment is returned to its place in the drawer and the Return key is depressed. Thereupon, the conveying means reverses its previous movements and restores the drawer to its particular place in the storage cabinet.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle or the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings: 4

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the complete filing system in bold outline.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of'the same.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the filing system, showing parts in side elevation.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. .3.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a portion of the file cabinet, showing one of the drawers with parts broken away.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, on a larger scale.

Fig. 7 is a diagram of the file drawer arrangement.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section on. the line 8-8 of Fig. 6, but with the compartments at the left in side elevation.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section of the elevator, showing the turntable and its operating and control mechanism in plan view.

Fig. 11 is a detail elevation of the turntable locking mechanism, in' the direction of the arrow in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a horizontal section on the line 12-42 -ofFig.11.

Fig. 13 is a section on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view of a contact matically carried out, under control of the keyboard 20, comprising the following operations:

movements is unriecessaryQbecauseof the relation of the newly selected drawer to the one previously returned, a horizontal or vertical movement will take place alone; or the next step of the sequence will begin immediately.

2. The drawer will be transferred from the cabinet to the elevator car.

Figs. 20a-20c together constitute the circuit diagram.

Referringto the general views, Figs. 1-3, there is situated adjacent the operators desk II, a semicircular filing cabinet l2 comprising nine columns of drawer sections, each three drawers high. The drawers IO' are arranged to slide radially in the cabinet, either outward, as shown at l3 in Fig. 2, for attention by the file clerk; or inward, for transportation to, the operator's desk. At the center of the cabinet, there is a turn table l4 upon which is mounted an elevator comprising a framework of corner posts l5 joined by a top plate 16, and a vertically movable car H. The car can be moved to any oneof the three levels at which the cabinet drawers are positioned, and the entire elevator can be rotated by the driving mechanism of the turn table ll, to bringthe car into any one of nineradial positions proximate, respectively, to th nine columns of drawers of the cabinet. When the car is at the intermediate level and the central radial position, a drawer can be transferred from the car to a shelf l8 at the operator's desk. Here the drawe'ris positioned adjacent a rest I! and between the desk top and a keyboard and index mechanism 20 situated on the outer end of the shelf l8. Each' drawer contains a number of compartments 2|, ten compartments being shown in the present case.

The system includes control means, to be described later, whereby, with all the drawers in the cabinet,- and the elevator car standing at any one of its twenty-seven possible positions,

where it .was left after return of a drawer to the cabinet at the end of the preceding file examining operation, a sequence will be autoto the ends of a shaft 31 journaled 3. The elevator car will be moved eithervertically or horizontally, or both, to the middle position. If it is the middle drawer that has been selected, the fourth step of the sequence will follow immediately after the second step.

4. The drawer will be transferred from the elevator car to the operator's station. 5. One of the ten compartments or boxes 2| in the drawer will be raised above theothers. under control of a previously set secondary selection key of the keyboard.

6. The operator will remove the box, examine itscontents, return it to its position in the drawer, and press a Return key.

7. The box will be dropped to the level of the other boxes in the drawer and the drawer will be transferred fromthe operators station to the elevator car.

8. The elevator car will, if necessary, move vertically and transversely to bring it opposite the chamber of the cabinet from which the drawer was removed. 1

9. The drawer will be transferred from the elevator car to its chamber in the cabinet.

The conveying means The construction of the conveying means, which comprises the rotatably mounted elevator, with vertically movable car l1, is shown particu larly in Figs. 4 to 6 and 8. The turn table Hi pivots on a bearing post 25 (Fig. 4) fixed in the base plate 26, two roller bearings 2'! and 28 being interposed between the post 25 and the hub 29 of the turn table. Additional roller supports 30 are provided at suitable intervals under the outer edge of the turntable plate l4. The four corner posts l5 are in the form of channel bars, to provide trackways for sets of rollers 3| journaled on the 021' ll. The car comprises a central trough 40, to the sides of which are fixed brackets 4| which carry the rollers 3| at their extremities. A reversible elevator motor EM anchored to the top plate I6 has two sprocket wheels 33 at the opposite ends of its shaft, over which are trained two chains 34 fastened at the points 35 to the opposite sides of the car H. In the lower. loops of the chains engage sprocket wheels .36 secured in bearings 38 on the turn table plate l4.

For the purpose of transferring the-;drawers and 50. The sprockets 49 are fixed to the ends of a shaft 5|, journaled in bearings 52 on the bottom of the trough 40, while the sprockets 50 are fixed to the ends of the shaft 54 of a reversible carriage motor CM anchored to the bottom of the shaft 40. v 1

At certain times in the above mentioned sequence of operations the motor CM is started in one direction to move the carriage over to the file cabinet, where it becomes coupled to one of the drawers; then, by reversing the motor, the carriage is moved to theleft, transferring the drawer onto the elevator car. As shown in Fig. 5, each drawer of the cabinet is supported upon the bottom plate 63 of its chamber in the cabinet, by bottom ribs 02 of the drawer. The bottom 64 of the drawer is thus positioned at a sufficient elevation above the plate 63, to provide spaces' 05, into which the side bars 45 of the carriage can move, as the carriage approaches the cabinet to engage the drawer, for transfer to the elevator car. On the bottom side of the cross plate 44 of the carriage is a hook I0, pivoted on a pin II This hook is adapted to engage and lock with a downwardly extending square pin I2 on the bottom of the drawer. The hook I has an arm I4 coacting with a detent I5, pivoted at I3 on the bottom of-plate 44, to hold the hook 10, at times, out of the position in which it can engage the pin 12. A spring I6, stretched between another arm ll of the hook and the detent I5, biases the hook in counterclockwise direction and the detent in clockwise direction.

Upon the bottom of the trough 40 is fixed a bracket 18, to which an arm 19 is pivoted by a pin 80. The right end of the arm I9 is bent upward and positioned to move up through a hole trough 40, the detent I5 is to the left of the upturned end of the arm I9. As the carriage moves to the right toward the cabinet, a downwardly extending flange 15a of the detent I5 engages the upwardly bent end of' arm 19, which has been rocked counterclockwise by an excitation of the electromagnet I8 preceding the rightward movement of the carriage, and the detent is thereby rocked to release the arm of the hook 10. The latter swings into the position in which it will engage the pin I2 when the carriage has moved all the way to the right, the hook yielding as it passes the pin 12 and finally snapping behind the pin.

Following the engagement of the hook with the pin 12, thecarriage begins its movement to the left, governed by automatic control means to be. described later, pulling with it the drawer and transferring the same tothe trough of the elevator car. If the drawer. happens to be the one at the vertical and transverse center of the storage cabinet, no movement of the elevator or turntable is necessary to position the carriage and drawer for transfer to the desk. If any other drawer has been selected, the necessary movements of the elevator 'car or turntable, or both, will 'precede the transfer of the drawer to the desk. Assuming the elevator car tobe in the central position shown in the drawings, a further movement of the car to. the left pulls the drawer from the trough 40 onto the shelf I8 of the desk, where it stops just behind the rest I9. As the carriage approaches the left end of its movement an adjustable screw 90, mounted on an ear 9| extending up from a frame plate 89,

hook clockwise out of engagement with the pin -I2. Finger 14 of the hook 10 comes into register with the notch of detent I5 and is engaged thereby, thus releasing the car from pulling connection with the drawer.

Means are provided to make an automatic secondary selection of the individual compartments 2| in the drawer. In the present case the selection of a particular compartment is accomplished by raising the compartment above the others. For this purpose, each drawer is provided with a series of plates 68 (Figs, 5, 6 and 8) having square lifting shafts 85 guided in square vertical holes in a medial rib 86 of the bottom of the drawer. There is a plate 68 for each compartment 2|. When the drawer is in its left end position, the shafts 85 are respectively in registration with the armature rods 81 of a set of electromagnets CPI'CPIO, mounted on a frame piece 69. The lectromagnets can be selectively energized, after the spindles come into' register, by means to be described later, so that a particular one of the ten compartments in the drawer is raised above the level of the others, where it can be conveniently grasped by the operator and withdrawn for examination of its contents. When the examination has been finished, the compartment is returned to its place in the drawer, the energized solenoid is deenergized, allowing the compart-' merit to drop back into place, and the drawer is ready to begin its return movement to the storage cabinet. The carriage firstmoves to the right to its normal position on the elevator car, shown in Fig. 6, the drawer being thrust ahead of it by the arcuate surface 61 of hook I0 bearing against the pin I2. The next stage of movement of the carriage may begin immediately, if the drawer is to be received in the central storage chamber of the cabinet; otherwise, the second step of the return movement of the carriage will await a preparatory movement of the elevator or turntable, or both, to bring the trough 40 in register with the proper receptacle of the cabinet. The carriage then makes a second excursion to the right, returning the drawer to its storage position, and is finally withdrawn to its normal position on the trough.

This completes the series of operations constitut ing one file-examining sequence.

Turntable operating means The turntable operating means is shown particularly in. Figs. 3, 4, and 10-14, and is similar to one used to control the movements of another type of rotary device, shown in the Fuller and Brand patent for a sorting machine, No. 2,150,216. The hub 29 of the turntable has secured to it a sprocket 56, with which meshes a drive chain 5'! leading to a small sprocket 58 on a shaft 59 of a reducing gear housed in a casing 60. The reducing gear is driven by the-shaft 66 of a reversible turntable motor TM. Means are Drovided to stop the turntable at any one of its nine radial positions corresponding to the nine columns of the file cabinet, and to lock it in the position at which it was stopped. The-nine positions are identified in Fig. 10 by nine stop block I01, with which cooperate two stop arms 96 and 91 and a lock arm 98 pivoted on a stationary pivot 98a. The stop arm 96 is pivotally supported at 99 by a pair of arms I00 pivoted on a stud IIII projecting from a, frame I02 secured to the base 95. The stop arm 91 is similarly supported at I03 by a pair of arms I04 pivoted on a stud I05 on the frame I02. .A spring I06 stretched between projections on the strikes an arm 02 of the hook I0 and rocks the arms 96 and 91 normally holds these arms in their effective or protruding positionsl Further, details of the construction shown are described in the above mentioned patent to Fuller and Brand.

Before the turntable can be rotated, it is necessary to withdraw the arm 96 and 97 clear of the particular block I'I then between said arms. To this end, the stop arms 96 and 91 are provided with hooked projections I08 and I09, respectively. Extending across these projections is an ear IIO bent over from the free end of a lever III, pivoted on a stud H2 in the frame I02. A link II3 pivotally connected at II3a to the lever I II has secured to its right end the armature H4 of a solenoid I I5,

Energization of the solenoid II5 attracts its armature II4, drawing the link II3 to the right and rocking the lever I I I counterclockwise. This movement of the lever III, through the ear IIO, rocks the stop arm 96 clockwise and the stop arm 91 counterclockwise; thus moving said stop arms out of the path of the blocks I01. As the stop arms 96 and 91 approach the limit of their movement, a latch I25 (Fig. 13), under the infiuence of its spring I26, rocks clockwise to engage bent-out ends I24 of latch arms 99 and 91, to lock the arms in ineffectiv position. The latch I25 is pivoted at I39 and is operated by a solenoid I44 acting upon an armature arm I95 of thelatch.

Before the turntable I4 is free to rotate, the lock arm 90 must be removed to ineffective position. This is accomplished by a magnet I21, the circuit of which is controlled by pairs of contacts I28 and I29 (Figs. 10, 11 and 14) having inner blades bent upward at an angle. These angular ends of the inner blades carry blocks I30 of insulating material. Studs I36 and I31, projecting respectively from the stop arms 96 and 97, cooperate with the blocks I30 to hold the pairs of con- 'tacts I28 and I29 open when the stop arms are in their efiective position. When the stop arms 99 and 97 are pulled backto free the turntable It, the studs I39 and I 37 are carried out of engagement with the blocks I30, whereupon the contacts I20 and I 29 are closed by the spring tension of their blades.

Closure of contacts I28, or I29, or both, energizes magnet I2I, which attracts its armature I39 and rocks the lock arm 98 clear of the block The turntable motor TM is now started in the proper direction to'imove the turntable toward the selected new position. As the block I01 identifying the selected position approaches the position in which it is to be stopped, the electromagnet I44 is energized to retract the hook I35 from the lugs I24 of arms 96 and 97, which thereupon spring into effective position. The block I07 cams down either the arm 96 or 91, depend ing upon the direction of rotation, and is stopped by the other arm, the'circuit of the motor TM having been broken at about this time. When the turntable has come to rest and the contacts I28 and I29 are both open, the circuit of the electromagnet I2? is broken and the locking arm 90 drops into the notch of the block i0! which stands opposite its nose.

File drawer arrangement Fig, 7 shows, in the form of a diagram, an arrangement of the file drawers suitable for filing correspondence and based upon a well known table of relative frequency of occurrence of letters in alphabetic sorting. It has been found that proper names beginning with certain letters occur much more frequently than those beginning with certain other letters. For example, in each thousand names there will usually be one hundred names beginning with a B and one hundred and five beginning with an S, while there will be only four names beginning with an I, two beginning with a Q, and not even one beginning with an X. The other letters range in between these extremes. The most efficient utilization of a. filing space sub-divided into twenty-seven drawers, as in the cabinet shown in the drawings, consequently calls for a distribution of names beginnin with frequently occurring initial letters, such as S and B, into several drawers, and the groupin together of names beginning with the less frequently occurring initial letters, such as I, Q, U, V, X, Y and Z. In subdividing the group of names beginning with one letter, it is convenient to base the subdivision upon the second letter of the name. For the purpose of this grouping according to the second letter, the present illustrative embodiment shows a division of the alphabet into five parts, comprising, respectively, the letters A-D, E-H, I-L, M-Q, and R-Z.

The diagram shown in Fig. 7 is self-explanatory as to the subdivision and groupingof the initial and second letters into the different drawers of the filing cabinet, and the placing of the drawers. The arrangement is such as to locate the most frequently occurring letters in those positions calling for the least movement of the conveying mechanism, from the position of the drawer'in the cabinet to the central position where the drawer is transferred to the operators desk. The diagram also shows the numbers I to 9 pertaining, respectively, to the nine columns of drawers, the numbers running from left to right. The columns are divided into three levels numbered I, 2 and 3, from top to bottom. These numbers will be used to identify the drawers in the further description, the numbers I to 9 per taining to the radial positions being used as the units term of an identifying number and the numbers I to 3 pertaining to the three levels being used as the tens term of the identifying number. Thus the drawers will have the following identifying numbers, which also appear on them in Fig. 7:

In level I, drawers II, I2, I3 I9. In level 2, drawers 2I, 22, 23 29. In level 3, drawers 3I, 32, 33 39.

Keyboard and index: mechanism The keyboard and index mechanism is shown in Figs. 15 to 19. There are two rows of first letter primary selection keys PK and a single row of five second letter primary selection keys SPK. In this same row is a' Return key RT. There is also a row of secondary selection keys SKY, numbered I to I0. The four transversely extending banks of keys are of the same construction, with a few exceptions which will be noted; accordingly a description of the bottom key bank will apply generally to the others. The keys have stems 200 guided in a stationary frame comprising a top bar 20I and a bottom bar 202, tied together by end plates 203 and 204. The stem is broadened out below the top bar 20I and centrally slotted to receive a spring I99, which has a diameter greater than the thickness of the key stem and rests at-its lower end upon the bottom bar 202-, normally urging the key up to a position where its shoulders 209 abut against the top bar 20I. Each key stem passes through of the wiring diagram.

a related S106 m of a locking bar at slidably' mounted in the end plates 208' and 204 and biased cam surface 208, all coa'cting, at times, with the left end of the related slot I91. 'When a key is depressed its camsurface 206 will move the locking bar I98 to the left and the locking bar will snap over the shoulder 201 to lock the key down.

' If another key is depressed the first one will be released in well known manner. Mounted on the end plate 203 is a group of contacts Ia and lb adapted to close by inherent spring force, but held open by the locking bar I98 .in its normal position. Depression of any key in the bank will allow the contacts Ia and lb to close momentarily, as will a second depression of the same key from locked down position, which cams the locking bar to the left by the surface 208. The second PK keybank has a group of contacts similar to the contacts Ia' and lb, which are identified in the wiring diagram as 2a and 2b (Figs. c and 20b). There are no similar contacts on the SPK, RT keybank, nor on the SKY keybank.

Mounted below each key stem of the PK keybanks, on an insulating panel"2l2,, is a pair of contacts adapted to be bridged by a contact plate 2I3 onthe bottom of the key stem. Thesepairs of contacts pertaining to the keys individually are identified by the reference numerals KI to K24 (see Fig..20a), the odd numbers, KI, K3, etc.,

being in the lower row. The SPK keys have simi-' lar pairs of contacts KSA, KSE, KSI, KSM, and

KSR. The RT key has associated with it three pairs of contacts which cannot be seen in Fig. 16, but will be iden ified later in the description The left edge of this key stem is straight and it therefore has no'influence upon the locking bar I98, nor is it held down by the latter when depressed. The SKY keys have a single pair of contacts associated with each key and these are-identified in Fig. 20b as SKI to SKIO.

In addition to the normal locking action of the locking bar I98, which can be releasedvby depressing, another key in the same bank, there is provided for each key bank an additional lock preventing any alteration of the setting of the keyboard from the time a new file-examining sequence has started until it has been completed. On the end plate 203 of each keybank a locking detent 2I5 is slidably guided in lugs 2I6. The detent is biased downward by a spring 2" and, when free, its end 2I5a engage in a hole 2I8 in the locking bar I98 and prevents it from moving. The lower end 2I5 ,b of the detent cooper:

' ates as an armature with a solenoid 209, so that when the solenoid is excited, the detent is raised to the position shown in Fig. 17, releasing the locking bar I98.

Above the keyboard is an index drum I50 bearing lines of indicia, one of which appears in the window. I5I of the casing I52. The particular line shown is the one which is brought to the window in response to depression of either the PK key G and the SPK key R-Z, or the PK key J. The correspondence identified by these keys includes the names beginning with GR and ending with GZ, and allthe names beginning with J. As indicated by the indicia appearing in the window I5I, this group or names is subdivided into, ten parts, for the purpose of filing in the ten different compartments in the drawer perof the drawer into position to be grasped and removed.

The index drum I50 is rotated by a motor IM.

This motor, which runs constantly while the machine is in use, is connected by reducing gears I55 to a gear I56 pinned to a shaft I51 journaled in bearings I58 and I59, the bearings being secured by brackets I50 and I5I to the base I62 of the keyboard and index mechanism. The drum I50 is revolubly mounted on the shaft I51 and its hub I64 has fixed to it a toothed disk. I65. Beside the latter there is revolubly mounted upon the hub I64 a second toothed disk'l66, and on the opposite side of the disk I65 a ratchet wheel I61 is pinned to shaft I51. The toothed disk I65 has rockably mounted in it a small shaft I68, which has fixed to it at one side of the disk I65 a pawl I69, located in the same plane with the ratchet wheel I61. At the other end of the little shaft I68 is fixed an arm I10, this arm being located between the disks I65 and I66 and havin at its extremity a pin I1I extending into a radial slot I12 in the disk I66 (see Fig. 19). A spring E13, anchored to a pin I14 on the disk I65 and connected to the pawl I59, biases the pawl toward the ratchet wheel l61. The relation of the parts is such that when the spring I13 has pulled the pawl I69 into engagement with the ratchet wheel I61, the arm I10 holdsthe disk I65 so that its teeth are slightly ahead of the teeth on disk I65, with reference to the counterclockwise rotation of the disks. A detent I15, pivoted at I16 to. a bracket I11 secured by screws "M to the main bracket I6I and biased toward'the left by a spring (not shown) is held back clear of the disks I65 and I66 by a. solenoid ST, while the index drum is turning to a new position, and is rocked in front of a particular pair of teeth on disks I65 and I66 identified with the selected line of the index drum, by deenergizationof solenoid ST and energization of solenoid SP. The tooth of disk I56 strikes the detent I15 first and rocks arm I10, as disk I65 continues itsrotation, throwing the pawl I69 out of engagement with the ratchet 'wheel I61. As thetooth of disk I65 is stopped retracting their detents from the disks I55, I66

the disk I66 moves ahead as the spring I13 pulls the pawl I69 into engagement with the ratchet wheel I61. When so engaged, the ratchet wheel drives the disk I55, through the pawl I69, and thus rotates the index drum I50, which is fixed to the disk I65.

The selection of the position in which the index drum is to be stopped is accomplished by means of an index commutator 10 shown in Fig. 18, and circuits to be described presently. The commutator comprises an insulating ring I85 holding a fset of radial commutator segments I86. A brush (see Fig. 8 0n the casing fixed to the hub I64 travels over the commutator segment spots I86. Through circuits to be described presently, the contact of the brush I81 with a selected commutator segment I86 causes the energization of'the detent solenoids ST, SP to be reversed, just before a particular tooth of the disk I65 corresponding to the selected line of the index drum reaches the detent I15.

' Operation and circuit diagram The circuit diagram is divided into three parts. Fig. 20a shows the circuits controlled directly by the-primary selection keys PK and SPK. Fig. b shows the index control circuits, the turn table control circuits, the carriage control circuits, and the circuits controlled by the secondary selection keys SKY. Fig. 200 shows the elevator control circuits, the program device circuits. and the four motor circuits.

The circuits will be explained by following through the operations constituting one file examining sequence. It will be assumed that the system stands in the condition with all drawers in normal storage position in the cabinet and the conveyor in the middle position, that is, with the elevator'car at position 25. The keyboard locking solenoids 269 are all energized, contacts PObhaving been closed atthe end of the preceding sequence; thus the keyboard is released for setting. The operator wishes to examine correspondence under the name Gurney. He starts by pressing the PK key G and, noting that the G key bears an asterisk, indicating further primary subdivision; he presses the SPK key corresponding to the second letter of the name Gurney, in this case the R-Z key. The depression of the PK key momentarily closes the contacts Ia (see program device circuit, Fig. 200). This completes the following circuit: connected to the line by switch 2I9 (Fig. 20a) through Wires 22I and 222, contacts Ia (now closed), wire 223, PAO contact of the program distributor PRA, sliding contacts 224, 224a segment 225, wire 226, solenoid PM, wire 221, contacts PMA, wires 228 and 229 to the switch 2I9 and the other side of the line. The solenoid PM is energized and attracts its armature 236, which is rocked counter-clockwise against the pull of its. spring 23I and drops its pawl 232 back one tooth on the distributor arm PRA. The armature 230 also opens the switch PMA, thus breaking the circuit of solenoid PM and allowing the armature 230 to rock clockwise, so that its pawl 232 throws the distributor arm PRA one step in counterclockwise direction, bringing the contact 224 onto contact PAI. A second distributor arm PRB is 20(1) are closed by the relay PI, completing the following circuits: Line wire 220, wire 246, contacts PIa, wires 24I 242, the contacts KSR (closed by SPK key R-Z) relay SR, wire 243 to line wire 229. The'relay SR is a gang relay which closes all the contacts SRI-SR1. A circuit is also com- From the line wire 2 26,

pleted by contacts Pla, from line wire 220, wire 246, contacts PIa, wires 24I and 245, contacts K1 (closed by the PK key G), contacts SR3 (now closed), wire 246, relay FI8, wire 241, relay EI, wire 248 to line wire 229. The relay EI is one of a group of three relays, El, E2, E3, governing the elevator control circuits. The relay F I8 is one of twenty-seven relays arranged in three groups: Flt-FIB, F2I-F29, and F3I-F39. These relays govern the turn table control circuits and the index control circuits. The three groups are connected in series with the related relays El, E2, and E3, respectively, by wires 241, 239, and 249.

Simultaneously with movements of the turntable and elevator, under control of circuits to be described presently, there isa quick setting of the index drum to a new position corresponding to the PK key G and the SPK key R-Z. This movement of'the index drum is initiated by closure of contacts lb (Fig. 20b), which completes a circuit from line wire 228 through normally closed contacts 6a. wire 255, contacts Ib (now closed), wire 256 and relay R3, to line wire 229.

The 3a contacts of relay R3 close, completing a holding circuit for the relay. The 3b contacts close, completing a circuit from wire 255 through wire 251, solenoids ST and DT and relay R5, and wire 258, to wire 229. It will be recalled that the solenoid ST releasess the detent I15 from the clutch control disks of the index drum, .while the solenoid DT retracts the rebound pawl I18. The pawl I69 drops in front of the first tooth of the ratchet wheel I61 and the index drum begins to rotate. The relay R5 is energized and closes its contacts 5a, thereby connecting the bus wire 25!) to the line wire 220. The relay FI8, energized in the present case, has closed its contacts FI8a and set up the segment spot II8 of the index commutator IC. When the brush I81 reaches this segment spot, a circuit is completed through wire advanced at the same time, itssliding contact 260 and through solenoid SP and relay R6 in par-v allel, to the line wire 229. The relay R6 opens its contacts 6a, breaking the circuits of relay R3, R5, ST and DT. The detents I15 and I18 are thrown against the clutch control disks and release the driving pawl I69 in the manner previously described. The brush I61 moves, during this releasing operation, to the space between contacts II8 and II9. The index drum is stopped and locked by the detents I15 and I18 in the position which displays in the window I5I the line of indicia identifying the compartments of the drawer Ill. The operator observes the notation GUA to GUZ, which embraces the name Gurney, above the arrow leading to the SKY key 5, and depresses that key. This releases any previously depressed key of the row and sets up a circuit for the secondary selection, to take place at a later stage in the program. The deenergization of relay R5 allows the Sc contacts to return to their normal open position.

Upon one of the frame posts I5 of the elevator there are mounted three pairs of normally open contacts LI, L2, and L3, and related operating levers 265 pivoted on brackets 266. The opposite end of each lever 265 has a pin 261 to engage a cam 268 on the car i1. Fig. 8 shows the cam 268 closing the contacts L2, the car being at the intermediate level, as in the example assumed. This is the condition shown in the diagram of the elevator control circuits in Fig. 200. The energization of the relay PI closes contacts PIc, completing the following circuit: From line wire 220 through wire 210, contacts Plc (now closed), wire 21I, cam contact L2 (now closed), wire 212, conassaeao wire 229. The excitation of relay I I9 closes contacts EIa of relay El (now energized), wire 213, pickup relay UP, wire 214. to line wire 229. The relay contacts UPa, UPb, UPc and UPd close, the latter completing a holding circuit from line wire 228, through wire 215, normally closed contacts 10, wire 216,'contacts UPd, wire 211, re-

lay UPH to line wire 229. The closure of contacts UPc completes the circuit of the elevator motor EM, as follows: From line wire 228, wire 218, normally closed contacts lb, wire 219, contacts UPc, through the motor circuits by way of normally closed contacts U'Pa and UPb, .to the line wire 229. The elevator car movesup and contacts L2 open, deenergizing pickup winding UP. The elevator motor continues to run until the cam 268 closes contacts LI, at which time a circuit is completed as follows: From line wire- 228, wire 218, contacts PIc (now closed), wire 21 I, contacts LI, wires 288 and 28!, contacts EIc now closed), wires 282 and 283, relay R1 to line wire 229. The relay R1 closes its contacts 1a and opens its contacts 1b and 1c, breaking the circuit of the elevator motor and the circuit of relay winding UPH. The circuit of the motor EM is further broken by the opening of contacts UPc. The elevator car now stands at level i and the operation of the elevator for this stage is complete.

Meanwhile, the turntable motor has been set in operation under control of circuits which are to cause the turntable to move from position 5 to position 8. The turntable control circuits shown in Fig. 20b'include a commutator device TC (see also Fig. This comprises an insulating segment 284 on which a setof stationary contacts TCI-TC9 are mounted in arcuate arrangement. With these contacts cooperate a series of contacts TCL, TCR, and TCS mounted on a rotary insulating member 285 geared to the shaft 59 by gears 53, 55, 286 and 281. The ratio of these gears is such as to make the rotary commutator plate 285 turn through somewhat less than 180 as the turntable completes a movement of 180. The spacing of the contacts TCL, TCR, and TCS is the same as contacts TCI TC9 and is such that there is a relative shift by one position as the turntable moves from one radial position to the next. There are eight contacts TCL connected together by a wire 288 and joined to a slip ring 289 by a wire 298. There are likewise eight contacts 'ICR connected together by a wire 29I and joined to a slip ring 292 by a wire 293. The single spot TCS is connected to a slip ring 294 by a wire 295. A brush 296 bearing on-ring 28 9 is connected by a wire 291 to a relay CL; a brush 298 bearing on ring 292 is connected by a wire 299 to a relay CCL; and

a brush 388 bearing on ring 298 is connected by a wire 38I to a relay R8. The three relays are con-. nected by a wire 382 to wire 229.

The closure of contact Plb of the relay PI completes a circuit from line wire 228 through wire 385, contact Plb, wire 385, bus wire 381, contact Fl8b of relay FI8, wire 388, contact T08 and the TCL spot in contact therewith, wires 288, 298, ring 289, brush 296 and wire 291, relay CL and wire 382 to line wire 229. The CLd contacts of relay CL close to complete a holding circuit for the relay through normally closed contacts 8c. The contacts CLc close to complete or prepare the circuit of turntable motor TM, which also depends upon the following preliminary operations relating to the turntable stop and lock devices: Closure of contacts Pld of the relay Pl completes a circuit from line wire 228, through wire 3I8, contacts PId, wire 3, normally closed contacts 8d, wire 3| 2, relay 9, wire 3I3 to line tacts 'I I6 (see turn table motor circuit, Fig. 28c) and opens contacts II6a. The closure of contacts H6 energizes relay -II5, which, it will be remembered,- operates release lever III to retract the stop levers 96 and 91 from the stop block I81. The opening of contacts Ilsa deenergires relay I44, allowing its armature R to engage the locking lugs I24 of the stop arms 96 and 91, when they reach their retracted position. The rocking of the armature arm I48, acts through its pin III to close contacts 11 and to open contact II8, breaking the circuit or solenoid H5. The movement of the stoplevers 96 and 91 to the right carries the pins I36 and I91 in the same direction, so that the contacts I28 and I29 can close, to complete the following circuit through solenoid I21: From line wire 228, wire 3I5, contacts I28 and I29, wire 3I6, relay I21, wire 3I1 to the line wire 229. The locking lever 98 is released from the stop block I81 by the attraction of its armature I38 and the contact 16 is closed, completing the "circuit of turntable motor TM as follows: From line wire 228, wire 9I8, normally closed contacts 8b, wire 3I9, relay contacts CLc (now closed), the motor armature circuit and the motor field winding circuit through normally closed contacts CLa. and CH), wire 328, contacts 16 and 11 .(now closed) and wire 32I to line wire 229. 'Iheturn table motor revolves the turntable in clockwise direction from position 5 toward position 8., while the single spot TCS moves in the same direction over TC contacts 9, 1, and 8 in succession. Upon arrival .of the single spot TCS at the live contact T08, a circuit is completed from this contact through wire 295, ring 299, brush 388, wire 38I,

. relay R8 and wire 382 to line wire 229. The contacts 8a are closed and the contacts 81), 8c and 8d are opened. The opening of contacts 8b stops the turntable motor, the opening of contacts 80 breaks the holding circuit of relay CL, and. the opening of contacts 8d breaks the circuit of relay I9, which allows contacts M6 to open and contact I I6a to close. Relay I44 is energized and its file drawer I8. The closure of contacts 1a and 8a,

previously mentioned, completes a circuit containing a relay R9. The contacts 9a thereof close, completing a circuit through PRA contact, PAI and energizing the solenoid PM to step the program distributor arms forward tothe PA2,

'PB2 contacts, to initiate the carriage movements which are to transfer the selected drawer, No. 18,

from the file cabinet to the elevator car.

The carriage control circuits which are now to be described include a number of contacts operated by the carriage in its difierent positions, herein referred to as-carriage contacts. There are three sets of carriage contacts, namely: CAI; normally open, and CA2, normally closed, these being reversed, as the carriage moves into its left end position at the desk; CBI, normally open,

and CB2, CB3 normally closed, these being reversed as the carriage arrives in its central position on the elevator car; CCI, normally open, 0C2, normally closed, and CC3, normally open, these contacts being reversed upon arrival of the also Fig. 8).

carriage at the right end of its travel. The contacts CM and CA2 are mounted on a flange 93 of the frame plate 89 and are actuated by a lever I85 pivoted at I86 on the flange 93, The right end of the lever bears a pin I850, extending through a slot I81 in the flange 93, in position to be lifted by a boss I88 on the side bar 45 of the carriage 42. The contacts CBI, CB2, CB3 and CCI, CC2, CO3 are mounted on a side flange 48d of the car 48 and are operated by levers I85 pivoted at I89 and I98, respectively, on the flange 48a.

The program relay P2 is energized by the engagement of sliding contact 235 with the spot P132 and closes its contacts P2a, P2b and P20 in the carriage control circuits, completing the following circuit: From line wire 220, through wire 322, contacts P2a, wire 323, carriage contacts CBI (now closed), contacts P2c, normally closed contacts I2d, wire 321, pickup winding IIP of relay RI I, wires 328 and 329 to wire 229. Relay contacts I Ia close, completing a parallel holding circuit from wire 323 through wire 330, normally closed carriage contacts CC2, wire 33I, contacts Ila, windingIlH of relay RH, and wires 328, 329 to line wire 229. Contacts Ilb close, completing a. circuit through the armature of the carriage motor CM and through the field winding of motor CM by way of the contacts I21 and I2c, normally held in the position shown.. The carriage motor starts to rotate in the direction to drive the carriage toward the file cabinet. As the carriage moves out of normal position on the elevator car, contacts CBI, CB2, and CB3 reverse. The openin of contacts CBI breaks the circuit of pickup winding I IF, the closure of contacts CB2 is without effect at this time, while the closure of contacts CB3 completes the following circuit: From line wire 220, through wire 333, contacts P2b (now closed). wire 334, carriage contacts CB3, wire 33 5, pickup winding I1P of relay RI1, wires 328 and 329, to line wire 229. Contacts I1a close to complete the following holding circuit for relay RI1. From normally closed carriage contacts 002, through wire 338, contact He (now closed), wire 331, contacts I1a, winding I1H of relay RI1, wires 328 and 329 to line wire 229. A parallel circuit is completed by closure of contacts I1b, through solenoid 83 (see The turned up end of lever 19 is thrown up into the path of detent flange 15a and trips the detent as the carriage passes, releasing hook to operative position. As the movement of the carriage into the cabinet is completed and the hook 10 engaged with the pin 12, the carriage contacts CCI are closed and the carriage contacts 002 are opened. The opening of contacts CC2 deenergizes the holding circuits of the relays RH and RI1, and the circuit of solenoid 83, retiring arm 19.' The contacts IIb open, breaking the circuit of the carriage motor CM, and the contacts IIc return to their normal open condition. The closure of the carriage contacts CCI completes a circuit from wire 323, through wire 349, carriage contacts CA2 (normally closed), .wire 34I, carria e contacts CCI, wire 342, pickup coil I2P of relay RI2, wires 328 and 329 to line wire 229. The contacts I2a close to complete a holding circuit from carriage contacts CA2, through wire 343, normally closed contacts Ida. contacts I2a, and holding coil I2H of relay RI2. The contacts I2b and I20 transfer and contacts I2f close, to start rotation of the motor CM in the reverse direction. The carriage moves to the left, pulling with it the file drawer. The motioncontinues until the boss I 88 closes the carriage switch CBI, completing 'a circuitthrough wire 348, contacts I26 (now closed), normally closed contacts P ld, relay RI4, wires 328, 329 to the line 'wire229. The contacts Ida open, breaking the holding circuit of relay RI 2. The contacts of relay Rl2 return to normal position, stopping the carriage motor CM. The relay contacts I Ib close, completing a circuit through the program contact PA2 to the solenoid PM and stepping the program distributor arms forward to the contacts PA3 and PB3. The relay P3 is energized and closes contacts P3a (Fig. 20a). This completes a direct circuit through the elevator relay E2 which closes its contacts E2a, completing the following circuit: From line wire 228; through wire 218, contacts P30 (now closed), wire 21I,car contacts Ll, wire 280, contacts E2a,, wire 349, pickup relayDN, wire 350, to line 229.

The contacts DNa, DNb and DNc close, completing a circuit through the elevator motor EM to operate the same in the down direction. A holding circuit is completed by closure of relay contacts DNd, from line wire 228, through wire 215, normally closed contacts 1c, wire 216, contacts DNd, wire 35I, relay winding DNH, wire 352, to line wire 229. As theelevator car starts .down, the cam contacts LI open, deenergizing pickup winding DN. Upon arrival of the car at the middle level, the boss 288 closes cam contacts L2, completing the following circuit: From line wire 228, by way of wire 218, contacts P30, wire 21I, cam contacts L2, wires 212 and 303, contacts E2c (now closed), wire 283, relay R1, to line 229. The relay contacts 1a close and the relay contacts 1b and 10 open. The opening of contacts 1b stops the elevator motor and the opening of contacts 10 breaks the holding circuit of relay winding DNH.

Meanwhile, the contacts PM of relay P3 close, energizing the relay II 9 and preparing the circuit of the turntable motor, while releasing the turntable locking devices in the manner previously described. The relay contacts P312 close completing a circuit through wires 353 and 354 to the contact TC5. As this contact is now engaged by one of the TCR contacts, the circuit continues through wires 29I, 293, ring 292, brush 298, wire 299, relay CCL and wire 302, to line wire 229. The relay contacts CCLa, CCLb and CCLc close, completing the circuit of the turntable motor TM to start the rotation thereof in counterclockwise direction. Relay contacts CCLd are also closed to complete a holding circuit for the relay'CCL. The single spot TCS move's counterclockwise from contact TC8 toward live contact TC5. When it engages the latter, a circuit is completed through wire 295, ring 294, brush 30!], wire 30I, relay R8, wire 382, to line wire 229. The circuit of the turntable motor is broken by the opening of relay contacts 817. The holding circuit of relay CCL is interrupted by the opening of contacts 80, and the relay H9 is deenergized by the opening of relay contacts 801, causing the stopping and locking of the turntable to proceed as previousl described.

The relay contacts 3a close and relay contacts 1a being also closed, relay R9 is energized. Current travels through relay contacts 9b and contact spot PA3 to solenoid PM, to step the program distributor arms forward to contacts PA4 and "PB4. Relay P4 is energized. Its contacts PM and P412 close to complete a circuit as follows: From line wire 220, through wire 322, contacts Pla, carriage contacts CBI, wire 3", contacts Plb, wire 358, pickup winding I2P of relay RI2 move the carriage to the left. The movement continues until the carriage reaches its left end position upon the shelf. I9, at which time the carriage contacts CA2 are opened, breaking the holding circuit of relay RI2. The relay is deenergized and the contacts I2 open to stop. the carriage motor, the contacts I2b and I2c transferring to their normal position.

Upon arrival of the carriage at its left end position, the carriage contacts CAI are closed, completing the following circuit for operating the secondary selecting means: From line wire 220, through wires 322 and 359, normally closed contacts I3c, carriage contacts CAI, wire 3Iil, return key contacts RT2 normally closed, wire 382, bus wire 363, contacts 8K5 closed by the SKY key 5, solenoid CPS, bus wire 365 and wire 366, to line wire 229. The energization of solenoid CPS lifts the compartment containing the correspondence indexed under the letters GUA to GUZ. The operator removes the compartment and examines the Gurney correspondence,

When the examination is completed, the operator returns the compartment to its position in the drawer and'presses the RT key. The contacts RTI close, transmitting current through contacts PA4 to the program stepping relay PM and advancing the distributor arms of the;program device to contacts PA5 and PB5. The contacts RT2 are opened, deenergizing the solenoid CPS and allowing the compartment to drop to normal position in the drawer. The contacts RT3 close, completing a circuit from carriage contacts CAI now closed, through contacts RT3, wire 368, and pickup winding I3P of relay RI3 to wires 328, 329, 229. I

The energization of relay RI3 causes its 0011-. tacts I3a to close, completing a holding circuit From line wire 229, through wire 322, contacts Pia, wire 323, carriage contacts CBI, wires 343 and 314, relay contacts Pid, relay RIB, and wires 328, 329 and 229. Relay contacts I6b' open, to

break the holding circuit of relay RI3. Relay contacts Ita close, sending current through the PA5 spot of the program device to operate the feed magnet PM and advance the distributor arms to the contacts PAS and PBS. The program relay P6 is energized and closes its contacts Pia (Fig. a). This reestablishes the circuits through the primary keyboard and starts an operation of the elevator motor and the turntable motor in the same way as during the first stage of the sequence. In this case, it is the contacts P6c of the elevator control circuits which are closed and the contacts P6!) of the turntable control circuits. When the elevator returns to level from line wire 22!), through wires 322, 369, normally closed contacts'ilib, wire 31!], contacts I3a, wire 3H, and holding coil I3H of relay RI3. Atthe same time relay contacts l3c are opened to prevent reenergization of the secondary selection solenoid upon return of the RT key to normal position. The relay contacts I3b close, complet ing the circuit of the carriage motor CM which I ment of the carriage to the right continues until it has arrived at its normal position on the elevator car, atwhich time the carriage contacts CBI are closed.

Meanwhile, the energization of program relay P5 has set urithe following circuit which is' completed by the closure of carriage contacts CBI:

relayRI I.

I, it is stopped by the energization of relay R1, the contacts Ia of which again close. When the turntable arrives at radial position 8, the relay R8 is energized and the contacts 8a close. This completes the circuit of relay R9 and its contacts are closed, sending current through the PAS spot of the program device to the feed magnet PM.

The distributor arms of the program device are moved to contacts PA! and PB! and the program relay P1 is energized. The relay contacts P'Ia close, completing the following circuit: From line wire 220, through wire 322, contacts P'Ia, wire 323, carriage contacts CBI, relay contacts PIb, normally closed' contacts I2d, wire 32! to the pickup winding IIP of relay RI I, thence through wires 328 and 329 to line wire 229. The relay contacts Ila close, completing a holding circuit for the The relay contacts I Ib close, completing the circuit of carriage motor CM, which retates in the direction to drive the carriag to the right, the contacts I2b and I2c being in their normal position. When the carriage starts to move, the carriage contacts CBI open and break the circuit to pickup winding IIP. The motion of the carriage continues until the drawer is transferred to the file cabinet, at which time the carriage contacts CO2 open, breaking the circuit of the holding winding I IH of relay RI I.

, The carriage motor is stopped by the opening of relay contacts I lb. The carriage contacts CCI close, to energize the pickup winding I2P of relay R12. The holding circuit of this relay is reestablished by closure of contacts I211. The contacts I2b and In transfer and contacts I 2f close, to complete the circuit 'of the carriage motor which rotates in the direction to move the carriage to the left. The hook III having been released previously, the carriage returns to the elevator car without drawer. Upon arrival of the carriage at its normal position on the elevator car, the carriage contacts CBI are closed, completing a cir- Y cuit through relay contacts I2e and normally closed contacts Pld to relay RM. The energization of relay RM opens contacts Ida and breaks the holding circuit of relay RI2. The relay contacts I2.f open, to stop the carriage motor.

Meanwhile, the contacts PM of program relay P1, which were closed when the relay was energized, set up a circuit, which was completed by closure of the carriage contacts CO3, upon arrival of the carriage at the right end of its travel. The circuit then established is an obvious one through relay RIE, whose contacts l5a close to complete a parallel holding circuit for the relay, through normally closed contacts POa. Relay contacts I5b close, completing a circuit from line 220, 

